With the current-generation E-Class having been launched for the 2003 model year, Mercedes-Benz felt it was time to update its very successful midsize luxury sedan.

Along with some rudimentary changes, all E-Class models now feature an innovative new Mercedes-Benz safety system called PRE-SAFE. Also, there are new versions for the driving enthusiast – the 507-bhp E63 AMG – and the mileage-conscious who reside in the right 45 states: the 27 city/36 highway mpg E320 Bluetec turbo-diesel. Slotting somewhere in between the two is the E550, featuring an all-new aluminum-block 8-cylinder engine.

Specific changes to our test subject include a larger, new-generation 32-valve 5.5-liter V-8 engine (the E550 replaces the long-running E500 model) that generates some impressive numbers. While engine displacement has been bumped up by only half a liter, power production increases mightily: 382 horsepower toward the upper reaches of the tachometer versus 306 bhp for the E-Class of old. Also, torque is increased and generated over a wider rev range: now 391 lb.-ft. from 2800–4800 rpm versus 339 at 2700–4000.

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